The EFFECT Project

What is the Erasmus+ EFFECT Project?

The EFFECT Acronym means Erasmus For Food Education to Children & Trainers.

This project is financed by the Erasmus + programme, and supervised by ANIA (Association National des Industries Agroalimentaires). It is taking place simultaneously in France, Spain and Greece.

The EFFECT project aims to educate children aged 6 to 11 about good health behaviours. To achieve this, the project is focusing on training, so that both children and trainers can develop key skills in using innovative approaches such as the Sustainable Lifestyle Festival (which will take place in 2024, at the same time as the Olympic Games).

THE EFFECT PROJECT: WHAT IS ITS CONTEXT? WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Overweight children are a serious health problem in Europe. A study by the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative estimated that 19.3% of European children aged six were overweight or obese in 2010.

This high level of obesity among children is linked in particular to the social and lifestyle changes that have taken place in Europe over the last three decades. The development of unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles have played a major role in this situation.

Childhood is a key period in any strategy to promote physical and mental health and well-being. Children’s eating habits and lifestyles are influenced by many factors, particularly through their school and out-of-school ecosystems. There is also evidence of a correlation between children’s weight and their social class.

In France, a study by the Ministry of Health and Solidarity highlighted the fact that working-class children are more likely to be overweight from the age of six than children from higher social classes. It is recognised that childhood obesity has a serious impact on children’s quality of life and has various health and social consequences (social stigmatisation, bullying at school, poor school results, mental health problems, type 2 diabetes).

This is the background to the EFFECT project, which aims to improve food education for children. By targeting trainers (120 to 150 will be involved in this project) and indirectly children (more than 1,000 children will be affected by the project), the EFFECT project will encourage inclusion and diversity in education and training and strengthen the social inclusion of children: numerous studies have established a link between overweight and obesity in children and social isolation, bullying and dropping out of school. So, by providing tools to combat excess weight and obesity in children, the EFFECT project will help to create inclusive environments that promote fairness and equality, while meeting a wider community need.

In addition to the educational content and methodology for trainers developed during the project and made available on a free online learning platform, a unique and transferable initiative, the Sustainable Life Festival, will be tested with children in the three participating countries.

OBJECTIVES OF THE EFFECT PROJECT

Objective 1

Propose an in-depth analysis of the best practices in terms of food education for children across Europe.

Objective 2

Improve the awareness and the knowledge of trainers in food education through teaching materials and dedicated training sessions.

Objective 3

Create and impliment the Sustainable Lifestyle Act in all partipating countries.

Objective 4

Developing food education for children in Europe through the means of activities.

EFFECT : A EUROPEAN PROJECT

This is a European project, being carried out simultaneously in 3 European countries – France, Spain, and Greece. In each of these countries, several organisations are involved.

in France : ANIA (Association Nationale des Industries Agroalimentaires), AgroParitech University and VIF^® (Vivons en Forme)
in Greece : Harokopio University, SEVT (Federation of Hellenic Food Industries), EKEDISY (National Centre for Research and Preservation of School Materials)
in Spain : Spanish Federation of Food and Drink Industries (FIAB) and Comocomo university.

EFFECT began in November 2021 and will end in November 2024. It is funded by the Erasmus+ programme.

VIF^® CONTRIBUTES ITS EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH PREVENTION AND BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE

The « Vivons en Forme » programme has been working since its creation to improve children’s health behaviours (diet, physical activity and well-being).

Its expertise in the field of health promotion based on behavioural change (social marketing), and its experience in the fight against obesity, overweight and social inequalities is a real asset to this project.

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